Running-gear for vehicles.



EATENTE-D SEPT. l1, 1906.-

F'. L. Mmmm.A RUNMNG GEAR. PDR VEHIGLES.. APPLICA-MOH PILBDFBB. 12, mda. B'HFEWBD MAL?, 190e.vv

No. 850,961.. Mmmm SEPT. u, '1906. F. L. BINPQRD. RUNMNG GEAR, EGBJ VBHQLES.

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A PPLIOATION FILED Y 8.12, i903. RBIIEWED HAB. T, D305.

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o'Nrr' s'rArns PATENT FFIE;

Original application iilSd December 6, 1901, Serial [0 a/ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANK L. BINFORD, a citizen of the Unite-d States, residing in the city and county of Los Angeles, State of California, have, invented certain new and useful` Improvements in Running-Gear for Vehicles, of which the following is aspeciiication.

My invention relates to running-gearfor vehicles, and is designed to reduce frictional `resistance and increase tractional power and speed. p

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinaftei described and claimed specifically, and is a subdivision of the subject-matter disclosed `in my application for patent led December 6, 1901, Serial No. 84,900.

In the accompanying drawings, Fi e l is a side elevation, partly in section, o one of my improved runners. Fig. 2 is a top view, partly in section, oi the ends of two parallel runners, such as shown in Fio. 1 above. Fig. 3 is a detail View, upon an enlarged scale, of a portion of one of the side frames and adjoining portion of the movable track. Fig. 4 is a section upon plane of line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5

is` a sectional elevation, u on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the ower framework and the movable track. c.'Fig. '6 is a transverse section upon plane 'of line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. -7 is a top view of two sections of the movable track. Fig. 8 is asectional view,

upon 'plane of line 8 8, Fig. 7 Fig. 9, a side velevation of one of the movable track-sections. Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view,

upon an enlarged scale, taken upon plane of line 10 10, Fig. 5. Fig. 11- is a sectional View "aken upon plane of line 11 11, Fig. 5. Fig. 12 is an isometrical perspective view of one of the sections of the mud-guard.

In the accompanying drawings `l illustrate means for carrying my invention into practical operation, although I do not confine myself to the identical form o-r construction of parts shown in the accompanying drawings,- since it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention.

A 'A' represent two side frames united by.

bcross members c or by other suitable frame:

work. 4The rim R of each rameA A is formed with an endless groove 7', extendinor longitudinally, in which groove r are situated lthe beveled extensions b of the blocks or sections B, which constitute the endless mov- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

N0. 84,900. Divided and this 7,1906. Serial No.304,'768.

Patented Sept. l1, 1906.

application iled February 12, 190,3. Renewed ldarch able .track-T. Antifriction-rollers f are arranged within the rim R to bear against the beveled portions b of the extensions b ofthe blocks B, as`shown in Fig. 6. -These antifriction-rollers are preferably partially inclosed in metal c runways g.

The several sections` B of the movable` of ball-and-socket joints b2 b3 -or by other suitable mechanical expedient, although this is not'indispensable, since the groove r or equivalent structure of lrts may be relied -upon to maintain thel a ement of the sections B Theyare also connected by-Ineans' of' elastic coupling strips or ligatures c, preferably of waterproof material, soastolexclude moisture and extraneous matter yfrom the blocks or sections B. j Y

In -order to still further guard against the intrusion ofmoisture or extraneous matter, each side of eachrim R is provided with a traveling mud-guard M, composed of a series sists of a facing of rubber m or like flexible plate m2, formed with a shouldered tongue m3, which rests 'ni an endless raceway r2. The lower ed e of the iiexible material m rests against t e surface bf* of a block B and travels with the same, thereby avoiding the frictional resistance that would otherwise result between the opposed surfacesA in contact were the mud-guard stationary. Since it is only the lower portion ofthe movable track that is necessarily thus protected, the raceway r2 need not necessarily be carried around the rim, but may extend longitudinally along a substantially horizontal member of the side frame, as il ustrated in Fig. l.

track VT being coupled together, as hereinbefore described, are made to pass over a yielding bridge or take-up H, which compensates for any slack or looseness as well as for wear between the parts.4 This automatic take-up H may obviously consist of various well-known mechanical expediente.4 In thc accompanying drawings I have shown it as consisting of hinged sections h, resting upon springs t,'which tend constantly to raise the tension-bridge against the resistance of the endless movable track T.

track T may be coupled together by means In order'to shunt the antifriction-rollers f around this automatic tension H, their raceunder certain conditions of` use.

of sections m. These sections fm. Veach con- IOO . The sections B of the endless movable ,I b after the latter have passed over the saidA tension device H. y

The traction. device, as hereinbefore described, may be used in lieu of road wheels or runners u on a vehicle drawn by any suitable Vhen applied .to a self moving vehicle,` as arnautomobile,` power may be aplied directly to the endless movable track T y any suitable mechanical expedient, as by a toothed wheel I, situated upon a suitableA ower-shaft i and`n1eshing Vwith teeth y', ormed forthe purpose on the blocks B.

In a vehicle designed to be drawn by animal power the ball-and-socket joints uniting the sections B into a chain may be omitted, and likewise the teeth j, adapting it to be driven by a motor, the seations B being rendered smooth at their ends without balls or sockets or other connecting devices and held in position by the groove in the rim, said groove, with its circuits of ball-bearings, being continued at the top similarly to the bottom of the lsleigh-runner and the tension device omitted. Also in some cases the vehicle may be operated without themudguard and without the interposed strips of waterproof material forexcludingdirt, &c., the recesses therefor being dispensed with. In the vehicle drawn by animal powerA the ball-bearing joints b2 are not shunted, but carried around the top in the same manner (shown in cross-section in Fig. 6) for the bottoni.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l In running-gear for vehicles, the combination of a supporting-frame, an endless movable track supported upon and between two or more series of antifriction devices, and said plural series of antifriction devices are ranged to bear upon opposite surfaces formed on the said endless movable track whereby the latter is sustained entirely by and between antifriction -surfaces, as set forth. v 2. In running-gear for vehicles, the combination of a supporting-frame, an endless movable track resting upon two series of antifriction devices, and said two opposed series of antifriction devices arranged in the said supporting-frame in such manner as to support the movable track at two independent points, substantially as set forth. 3. In running-gear for vehicles, the combination of a supporting-frame an endless movable track, antifric-tion devices for supporting thesaid'endlr-isc movable` track upon the frame, and an automatic tension device for taking up the slack of the said' movable track, for the purpose set forth..

4. In running-gear for vehicles, the combi-A nation of a supporting-frame, an endless movablegtrack, antifriction devices for supporting said movable track upon the frame, an automatic tension device for taking up the slack of the endless track, and means for shunting the antifricti on devices aroundsaid automatic tension device, substantially in the manner and for the pur ose set forth.

5. In running-gear for ve -cles, the .combination of a supporting-frame, an endless movable track, antifriction devices upon opposite sides of the track for supporti-ng said endless movable track, and means for transmitting power to said endless movable track, for the purpose set forth.

In running-gear for vehicles, the combination of an endless track a supportingsaid track is disposed for supporting said endless movable track on said frame, said endless movable track formed with teeth fol` engagement with a driving gear-wheel, and said driving gear-wheel mounted upon a power-shaft for the purpose and substantially as set forth.l

7. In running-gear for vehicles, the combination of an endless track'a suitable frame, antifriction devices between which said track is disposedforsupporting said endless movable track thereon, and said endless movable Y track formed with articulated sections united by ball-and-socket joints, substantially as herein' shown and described.

8. In running-gear for vehicles, the combination of an endless track a suitable frame, antifriction devices between which said track is disposed for supporting said endless movable track., thereon, and said movable track formed ofa series of articulated secframe, antifriction devices between which tions having elastic waterproof ligatures interposed between them substantially inthe manner and for the purpose set fortn.

l '9. In running-gear for vehicles, the combination of an endless track a suitable frame, antifriction devices between which said track is disposed for supportingsaid endless movable track thereon, and said movable track consisting of a series of articulated sec-k tions B, formed with tbc beveled extensions b, for engagement with the antifriction devices, substantially as set fortn.

10. In running-gear for vehicles, the combination of a suitable frame, an endless movable track, antifriction devices between which said track is disposed for supporting said endless track upon said frame, an'end' less .traveling dust-guard mounted upon the frame and bearinor upon and traveling with Vthe endless movazble track, substantiallyas herein set forth.

FRANK L. BINFORD.`

Witnesses:

D. W. GARDNER, FRANK E. RoAcn.

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